Back to results
US 7,243,526 B2Granted
Device and method for measuring the impact properties of a sport field surface
AssigneeUnited States Golf Association
InventorMatthew M. Pringle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The tuft impact tester mounts a test probe in a suspended manner from a tripod arrangement via a gimbals mechanism so that the test probe is able to move along a vertical axis. The test probe is dropped from a predetermined height, the velocity of the test probe is measured prior to impact on a ground surface and the deceleration of the test probe caused by the ground surface is measured. The two values are used to determine the relative hardness of the ground surface.
Claims15
A turf impact tester comprising
- a support;
- a test probe having a part-spherical impact surface;
- means for supporting said test probe in said support for movement under gravity along a vertical axis from a predetermined position to a position of impact with a ground surface;
- and
- an accelerometer for determining the deceleration of said test probe during impact with the ground surface and emitting a corresponding signal in response thereto.
2 more elements
A turf impact tester comprising
- a tripod arrangement;
- a gimbals mechanism mounted on said tripod arrangement;
- a guide tube mounted in said gimbals mechanism for suspension from said tripod arrangement along a vertical axis;
- a linear bearing mounted in an upper end of said guide tube and disposed on said vertical axis;
- a handle slidably mounted in said bearing for movement along said vertical axis;
- a test probe secured to a lower end of said handle and having a surface for impacting a ground surface;
- a knob mounted on an upper end of said handle for abutting said guide tube;
- and
- an accelerometer for measuring the deceleration of said test probe in response to an impact with a ground surface.
6 more elements
In a method of testing a sports field surface, the steps of
- positioning a test probe having a part-spherical impact surface at a predetermined position above a ground surface;
- dropping the test probe under gravity from said predetermined position to impact with the ground surface;
- determining the deceleration of the test probe during impact with the ground surface and emitting a corresponding signal in response thereto;
- and
- plotting the force of the test probe on the ground surface as a function of the displacement of the test probe into the ground surface.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.